Soggy Moggy: Pet Cat Tests New Feline Hydrotherapy Treatments

While most cats that would yowl at a single drop of the wet stuff, one-year-old Roy loves paddling in the pool – and even jumps into the bath with his owner.

The real-life 'cat-fish' has been a guinea pig for hydrotherapy treatments for felines. 

The treatment is currently available for dogs - with practitioners claiming it benefits the pets’ muscles and blood flow.

Now Polly Noviss, a 30-year-old veterinarian nurse, wants to introduce the water-based classes for cats and has used her precious pet as a test subject.

She took the stray ginger cat in when he arrived ten months ago at the veterinarian practice she works at in Little Coxwell, Oxfordshire.

Roy was right at home with Polly’s five horses, two tortoises, two guinea pigs, a rabbit and three dogs – who also swim.

And it wasn’t long before she had him doing lengths of the pool at The Dog Studio, near Swindon.

The natural born swimmer paddles while wearing a special life jacket with a handle on the top so he can be thrown in and removed quickly.

Polly said: “Roy doesn’t have a fear of anything, he is such a bold cat. Last week I even saw him on the back of one of my horses.

“He is a very energetic cat, he goes for a twenty minute swim and when we get home he has his treats and food and is out of the door again, catching rats.

“Some cats will not like hydrotherapy but Roy loves it. He has jumped into the bath with me a couple of times and always wants to be in the shower.

“I do think he thinks he’s a dog. Roy doesn’t need hydrotherapy, he is a guinea pig so we can figure out what works."

The Dog Studio are planning to open classes in early 2015, and Polly claims that she already has a long waiting list of clients who want hydrotherapy for their cats.